In other words, Pickens and the Rapids defense struggled both times they faced off against the best in the East on the road. For a team that is being picked by some as a dark-horse candidate to win MLS Cup, that's an inconvenient truth.

Yet Pickens still feels confident about the Rapids' chances.

"I like our draw, I'll put it that way," he told The Denver Post this week.

Time will tell how much he ends up liking it. But there is this: Last year, the final team to earn a spot in the playoffs wound up lifting the trophy. The year before that, the last team in went to the final.

Colorado were the last team into the playoffs this year. So breathe out, Rapids fans.